Building construction



F. M. VENZIE Dec. 27, 1938.

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed July 27., 193

6 z 4. WW I INVE M A'Fro'RNEY Patented Dec. 27, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFiCE BUILDING CONSTRUCTION sylvania Application July 27, 1935, Serial No. 33,520

9 Claims.

This invention relates to building construction and, more particularly, to a novel interior partition Wall and to a method of erecting the same and comprises a continuation in part of my copending application, Serial Number 722,056, filed April 24, 1934.

Similarly to my copending application, the present invention contemplates a dry Wall, 1. e., a Wall without mortar in the joints, with the blocks spaced apart, and the subsequent insertion in the joints of a cementitious binder tying the blocks together. The present invention contemplates however that the blocks have applied to them before erection only the brown coat or coats of plaster and that the white or finish coat be applied only after the partition is up. The present invention also contemplates novel means for connecting the partition to adjacent ceiling and walls.

The principal disadvantage of the structure shown in my copending application each of the blocks must be exactly as thick as the others and the grooves in each block must be exactly positioned with respect to the faces of the blocks. In order to provide a partition with a smooth surface such a high degree of exactness is required in the finished block that the cost of manufacturing them precludes their use unless the only question involved is that of completing a partition in the least possible time. .7

A primary object of my invention is to provide a fireproof partition wall which may be speedily erected with only a slightly uneven surface which surface may after erection be covered with only a single finish coat to provide a smooth surface.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel partition and method of erecting the same ,of which the cost, measured in terms of both time and material, will be less than that of the usual construction.

A further object of my invention is to provide a novel partition wall of fireproof blocks, which, as it is being erected, may be readily and cheaply connected to adjacent side walls and ceiling.

A more specific object of my invention is to provide a novel method of forming a partition which comprises erecting a demountable base from a multiplicity of blocks. inserting a binder between the units after the erection thereof, and applying over the structure thus formed a white plaster coating only.

Another specific object of my invention is to provide a novel wall structure comprising fireproof blocks having the brown coat or coats of plaster thereon, means for spacing the blocks and holding them in predetermined relationship with one another, a cementitious binder in the joints between adjacent blocks and connecting them and the brown plaster coat on their faces to form a fairly smooth monolithic structure, and a white plaster coating over the brown coat and binder.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the specification, following claims and from the drawing, in which: I

Fig. 1 is a View in elevation, with parts broken away, of a partition embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the partition shown in Fig. 1, taken on the line 2--2, Fig. l; v

Fig. 3 is a detailed horizontal section of one end of the partition taken on the line 33, Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section of the partition taken on the line 4-4, Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a detailed perspective view of a clip embodied in my invention.

The partition wall contemplated in my present invention may comprise, as illustrated, a multiplicity of fireproof blocks 6, preferably of greater length than width, of greater width than thickness and of uniform thickness. Each of the blocks has formed upon its longitudinal edges complemental grooves 'l within which may be positioned wood dowels 8 or other suitable cylindrical units, and may be slightly rounded as at ca on its vertical edges. The lowermost row of the blocks 8 may be positioned on half round dowels 9 which preferably are nailed or otherwise connected to the floor F. The grooves I are preferably of the same diameter as the dowels 8 and 9 but are less than semicircular in size so that the dowels space the blocks 6 apart as Well as position them with respect to one another.

Prior to their use the blocks 6 may have applied to their major surfaces a suitable coat or coats of rough or brown plaster li'l which should be allowed to dry before the blocks are used in a partition. The brown coat may be applied at any time, for instance when the plasterers lack other work, and the blocks stored until needed. Thus the time needed for allowing the brown coats to dry, as Well as the time needed to apply it, is eliminated from the time taken in constructing the partition. Since partitions are most frequently erected in ofiice buildings after the space is rented or in order to meet the changing needs of tenants this saving of time on the job is a matter of importance to the building owner.

In order to connect the partition to the ceiling C and to the walls abutting the ends of the partition clips ll, Fig. 5, are provided. The clips preferably are formed of flat L-shaped metal with the legs perforated as at l2. It will be obvious that, as shown in the drawing, the clips may be nailed as at l3 to the wall W and ceiling C, and, as at M, to the most recently positioned block 6.

After the partition is erected the joints between adjacent blocks 6 may be filled in adjacent the surfaces of the blocks by a suitable cementitious binder l5 which not only connects the blocks to form a monolithic partition but also connects the edges of the brown coat in on contiguous blocks to form a continuous surface. The white plaster coat it then may immediately be applied.

By applying the white coat 16 after the wall is erected instead of previously to that time it will be obvious that some latitude may be allowed in the dimensions of the blocks and inthe positioning of the grooves 1 since slight-variations in the positioning of the blocks 6 with respect to one another can be hidden by differing thicknesses of the white coat of plaster, the outer face of which should, as usual, lie in a single plane.

Various modifications may be made in the above described embodiment of my invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof as defined in the following claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A partition wall comprising a multiplicity of fireproof blocks having a brown coat of plaster on vthe major surfaces of each, means for, spacing apart adjacent blocks and for positioning them with respect to each other, a cementitious binder in the spaces between said blocks and between the edges of the brown coat on each, and a white coat of plaster covering said brown coat and said binder.

2. A partition wall comprising a multiplicity of fireproof blocks each having a brown coat of plaster on a major surface, means for spacing apart the edges of said blocks and brown coats, a cementitious binder in the spaces between said blocks and between the edges of the brown coat on each, and a white coat of plaster covering said brown coat and said binder.

3. A partition wall adjacent fixed surfaces comprising a multiplicity of fireproof blocks having a brown coat of plaster on each of their major surfaces; means for spacing said blocks apart; clips entering some of the spaces between blocks and connected to some of said blocks, other portions of each of said clips being connected to one of saidfixed surfaces, whereby said blocks are fixedly positioned with respect to said surfaces; a cementitious binder between adjacent blocks and between the edges of the brown coats on adjacent blocks and cooperating therewith to form a relatively smooth surface, and a white coat of plaster over said brown coat and said binder.

4. A partition wall comprising a multiplicity of fireproof blocks positioned adjacent'fixed supports; means for spacing apart said blocks; clips entering some of the spaces between said blocks andconnected to some of said blocks, other portions of each of said clips being connected to one of said supports, whereby said blocks are fixedly positioned with respect to said supports; and a cementitious binder between the edges of the brown coat on adjacent blocks and cooperating therewith to form a relatively smooth surface.

5. In a partition wall comprising a multiplicity of blocks, grooves on an edge of each of said blocks, means on a floor engaging some of said grooves whereby the blocks adjacent the floor are positioned with respect thereto, and means connected to side walls and to a ceiling engaging the edges of some of said blocks whereby blocks adjacent the side walls and ceiling are positioned with respect thereto.

6. In a partition wall comprising a multiplicity of blocks, grooves on an edge of each of said blocks, means on a. floor engaging said grooves on such blocks as are positioned adjacent said floor whereby the blocks adjacent the floor are maintained in fixed relationship therewith, and means connected to a side wall and to a ceiling engaging the edges of some of said blocks other than the grooved portions thereof whereby said blocks are .maintained in fixed relationship with said side wall and ceiling.

7. A partition wall adjacent fixed surfaces comprising a multiplicity of fireproof blocks having rectangular parallel major surfaces, two parallel grooves in each of two parallel edges of said blocks, means in some of said grooves for positioning blocks both vertically and horizontally considered with respect to each other and spacing apart vertically adjacent blocks, other of said grooves receiving means for positioning certain of said blocks with respect to a floor and to other horizontally adjacent blocks, a curved surface connecting the major surfaces of said blocks with the other two edges thereof, said blocks being positioned with said last named edges on adjacent blocks in abutting relationship and said curved surfaces on adjacent blocks providing a space between the major surfaces of adjacent blocks, means connected to the side walls entering the space between some of the vertically adjacent blocks and connected to one of said blocks for positioning said blocks with respect to said side walls, a cementitious binder between all of the edges of each of said blocks and all adjacent blocks, and a coat of plaster over the whole.

8. A partition wall comprising a multiplicity of blocks having rectangular parallel major surfaces, curved surfaces connecting said major surfaces with two opposite edges of each of said blocks, said blocks being positioned with said edges on adjacent blocks in abutting relationship whereby said curved surfaces provide a space between the major surfaces of two abutting blocks, and a cementitious binder in said space.

9. A partition wall adjacent fixed surfaces comprising a multiplicity of fireproof blocks having rectangular parallel major surfaces, grooves on two parallel edges of said blocks, means in some of said grooves for positioning blocks both vertically and horizontally considered with respect to each other and spacing apart vertically adjacent blocks, other of said grooves receiving means for positioning said blocks with respect to a floor, curved surfaces connecting the major surfaces of said blocks with the other two edges thereof, said blocks being positioned with the last named edges of adjacent blocks in abutting relationship whereby said curved surfaces provide a space between the major surfaces of adjacent blocks, a cementitious binder between all of the edges of each of said blocks and all adjacent blocks and a coat of plaster over said blocks and binder.

FREDERICK M. VENZIE. 

